Taylor Farms recalls salsa, guacamole over possible salmonella contamination

Aug 9 (Reuters) - Taylor Farms said on Sunday that it was recalling prepared food items containing jalapeños from retailers over potential salmonella contamination, just weeks after it removed lettuce from Mexico that U.S. authorities linked to the cyclospora parasite.

The California-based supplier said the voluntary recall covers salsas, guacamole and other ready-to-eat products. It acted after Coast Citrus Distributors, which had supplied the fresh peppers, issued its own recall and notified customers.

Taylor Farms said it had stopped sourcing from a farm in Sinaloa, Mexico, that was identified as a possible source of the salmonella outbreak. The company said it was not aware of any reported illnesses tied to the recalled items.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said earlier this week that 345 people in 27 states had been sickened in the salmonella outbreak, with 36 hospitalizations. The investigation found that restaurants including Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba had received jalapeños imported by Coast Citrus. Both chains said they stopped using the peppers, and Coast Citrus recalled remaining product.

The latest recall adds to the pressure on Taylor Farms, which is already facing scrutiny over an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness marked by severe diarrhea. The FDA has linked that outbreak to Taylor Farms products from central Mexico, though the company has noted that the FDA had not confirmed positive sample tests for cyclospora on its lettuce as of Aug. 5.

Taylor Farms said it has voluntarily suspended all sourcing and production of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico and commissioned a safety review. The combined recalls could heighten concerns about imported produce and the broader food supply chain, especially as federal agencies continue investigating both outbreaks.

Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, and can be especially dangerous for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.